Does Dirty Hair Grow Faster? Busting the Ultimate Hair Growth Myth

A lot of women were raised to practice good hygiene. This entails taking a bath every day, shampooing the hair and scalp, and scrubbing every nook and cranny of the body. Bath time may have been a form of torture for some kids especially if their mothers scrubbed them like dirty pots.

However, there is a circulating theory among women with natural hair that defies the rules of hygiene. It appears that there is a correlation between dirt and hair growth. Given how many people think this is true, many are starting to ask –does dirty hair grow faster?

The quick answer is no. Dirty hair does not lead to faster hair growth. Contrary to what some women believe, leaving hair dirty is not healthy. It does not, in any way, make hair grow faster. Your hair may be growing at a quicker pace because of other factors. When you don’t clean hair a lot, you don’t apply use shampoo. Shampoo and other hair products strip off your hair’s moisture and natural oil. So, using these products less could result in longer hair.

For a clearer explanation, here are some of the reasons why dirty hair seems to grow at a faster rate.

You Are Using Low Manipulation Hair Styles

Among the reasons that your hair could be growing at a faster rate when its “dirty” is because you are using low manipulation hairstyles.

For those who aren’t familiar with this styling technique, it’s actually a hairstyle that you can keep for more than a day. These hairstyles are called low manipulation since they do not require heat or intense brushing. These hairstyles require little to no maintenance. Aside from that, these hair styles also require infrequent washing.

Since you are manipulating your hair less, it is not under a lot of stress. If you are considering low manipulation hairstyles, try the simple styles first like cornrows, plaits, buns, and braids.

Lesser breakage and ability to retain natural oils and moisture are the reasons why low manipulation hairstyles make hair grow faster. You might feel that your hair is dirty because you are not washing your hair all the time. However, hair grows faster not because of dirt but because it is subject to less manipulation.

Your Hair is Less Exposed to Heat

Another possible reason that you may be thinking that having dirty hair is making hair growth faster is because you are not exposing it to heat as much as you used to. Often, those who think their hair is growing faster because of dirt don’t blow-dry or use the flat iron.

Heat is one of the biggest reasons for hair damage. So, if you are not putting your hair through torture by exposing it to heat, there will be less breakage. Hence, you might think that your hair is getting longer in a shorter amount of time.

If you want to yield similar results without feeling that your hair is dirty, just minimize the use of heat when styling hair. Expose your hair to heat only when necessary and just do it a few times in a year. Minimizing heat exposure does not only make hair longer, it also helps keep hair healthy.

Your Hair Retains More Oil

One of the best reasons why dirty hair seems to grow faster is because of oil. It is common for women who have curly and kinky hair to feel that their locks are growing faster when it is not stripped of natural oil.

Locking in moisture in your hair is a great way to promote hair growth. One of the best advice is to seal in moisture with oil after you are done moisturizing your hair.

Oils promote hair growth. When you use shampoo less, you don’t strip your hair of essential oils necessary for healthy hair growth. This can be the reason why your hair gets longer quicker.

It is also true that shampooing hair every day is not good because it makes hair dry and less manageable. Aside from that, shampoo can also strip color from hair -this is a common concern especially of women with dyed hair.

Hence, it is recommended that you wash your hair and use shampoo only twice or thrice a week. If you want to keep hair clean in between washes, you can also use dry shampoo.

Final Thoughts

If you want your hair to grow faster and you are willing to do anything even walk around with dirty hair, we’ve got good news –you don’t have to do that! Don’t walk around with a dirty look because dirt doesn’t make hair longer!

So, does dirty hair grow faster? The answer would be a resounding no. In fact, dirty hair can even damage the scalp which is the least thing you want. It’s unsanitary to keep hair dirty not to mention that your hair would likely smell. The dirt buildup will also make your scalp itchy.

The best thing to do if you want longer and stronger hair is to minimize using shampoo, to try low manipulation hairstyles and to avoid the use of heat.

It is important to maintain proper hygiene when it comes to hair care. Don’t go around looking mangy and smelling bad because your hair will not thank you for it. What you need is to change your hair care routine to maximize hair growth.

About Aubrey Ginsberg

Hi, my name is Aubrey Ginsberg and I am the co-founder and editor of www.girlswithnaturalhair.com. I work as a professional graphic designer and blogger, but I have (as most of women probably) a big passion for beauty & hair care.

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Hey Girl

Hi, my name is Aubrey Ginsberg and I am the co-founder and editor of www.girlswithnaturalhair.com. I work as a professional graphic designer and blogger, but I have (as most of women probably) a big passion for beauty & hair care. Read More…